Letters to the editor: Government funding not a solution

Tom Watkins pontificates a lot from his moral high horse, but does little other than make himself and his fellow travelers feel good about themselves.

He wants to create mental health services for those with serious mental illness ďavailable and affordable.Ē Those services are already available if people choose to use them. They may not be able to afford them, Watkins says, but who decides what is affordable?

The only government funds that should be used would be for determining who is a threat to society and treating that personís condition to protect society. It cannot be a catchall that puts taxpayers on the hook for every mental problem there is.

Watkins attacks the entertainment industry. It may cause violence, but there are better solutions that donít involve government intervention. People could refuse to purchase violent videos or not watch violent shows. That would force the entertainment industry to change. Parents should control their children, rather than the government attempt to restrict productions viewed by everyone.

Enforcement of current laws that restrict underage people from access to the violent content could dry up those markets.

Watkins wants to establish sensible gun control. Who decides what is sensible?

He wants to take away weapons, the absence of which would give rogue governments a decided advantage over the militia mentioned in the Second Amendment. Militias are not just for helping the government against our common enemies; they are also a protection against the government itself.

Addressing the culture of violence is important, but doing so through government curtailment of the entertainment industry is superficial and probably unconstitutional.

CARMAN CONFORTIChesterfield Township

Senate prefers guns over lives. The Michigan Republican Senate is considering a bill to ignore federal regulation of guns and ammunition made wholly in Michigan. Michigan could be the gun capitol of the country, as manufacturers and jobs move here. Apparently, the Republicans support any business that provides jobs. Detroit alone had more than 1,000 shootings with more than 500 killed last year from gun violence. What happened to the Republican pro-life supporters who passed six bills last year? Is pro-life only for the unborn? We elected these Republican lawmakers, so we deserve what we got. JON LANMAN New Baltimore